Heading off a state disaster

Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 3:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 3:07 p.m.

State government has reversed a decision that would have done immeasurable harm to the most vulnerable among us.

Gov. Bobby Jindal has gone back on an announcement that he would eliminate the state’s support of its Medicaid hospice care.

In so doing, Jindal and his advisers have avoided a terrible mistake and even, in all likelihood, saved the state money.

It is a shame it took a statewide uproar to get the administration to re-examine the issue, but the good news is that a vital public program will be preserved.

State officials announced their reversal to a group of concerned people who had gathered at the State Capitol for what was planned as a candlelight vigil to protest the penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to state spending.

Eliminated hospice care for needy Louisianans would not just be needlessly cruel; it would probably not save any money.

Arizona embarked on a similarly short-sighted course of action several years ago.

It later reinstated hospice services for the poor because they save money in the long run by keeping the dying from having to seek medical services in emergency rooms or nursing homes.

“End-of-life care is just so vital for everybody,” said nurse Sue DeRada, one of the people at the Capital earlier this week when the announcement was made. “It’s sacred. It’s one of the most sacred times in people’s life next to being born. Why would we abandon people at such a critical time?”

That is a good question.

It is a good thing that the state’s highest officials have rethought what would have been a terrible act.

It is still a bit disconcerting that this came so close to happening, but the overriding sense right now should be relief that the state has found a way to keep Medicaid support of hospice care going.

Had we continued on the course Jindal had first announced, it would have put us in rare territory. Currently, only Oklahoma lacks hospice care for its poor and dying.

The change would not have affected millions. About 1,400 people who got the services last year would have been denied under the change.

The fact, though, that it would have deprived the most-needy of end-of-life care would have been a sad statement.

As it is, Jindal has headed off what would have been a terrible mistake.

<p>State government has reversed a decision that would have done immeasurable harm to the most vulnerable among us.</p><p>Gov. Bobby Jindal has gone back on an announcement that he would eliminate the state's support of its Medicaid hospice care.</p><p>In so doing, Jindal and his advisers have avoided a terrible mistake and even, in all likelihood, saved the state money.</p><p>It is a shame it took a statewide uproar to get the administration to re-examine the issue, but the good news is that a vital public program will be preserved.</p><p>State officials announced their reversal to a group of concerned people who had gathered at the State Capitol for what was planned as a candlelight vigil to protest the penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to state spending.</p><p>Eliminated hospice care for needy Louisianans would not just be needlessly cruel; it would probably not save any money.</p><p>Arizona embarked on a similarly short-sighted course of action several years ago.</p><p>It later reinstated hospice services for the poor because they save money in the long run by keeping the dying from having to seek medical services in emergency rooms or nursing homes.</p><p>“End-of-life care is just so vital for everybody,” said nurse Sue DeRada, one of the people at the Capital earlier this week when the announcement was made. “It's sacred. It's one of the most sacred times in people's life next to being born. Why would we abandon people at such a critical time?”</p><p>That is a good question.</p><p>It is a good thing that the state's highest officials have rethought what would have been a terrible act.</p><p>It is still a bit disconcerting that this came so close to happening, but the overriding sense right now should be relief that the state has found a way to keep Medicaid support of hospice care going.</p><p>Had we continued on the course Jindal had first announced, it would have put us in rare territory. Currently, only Oklahoma lacks hospice care for its poor and dying.</p><p>The change would not have affected millions. About 1,400 people who got the services last year would have been denied under the change.</p><p>The fact, though, that it would have deprived the most-needy of end-of-life care would have been a sad statement.</p><p>As it is, Jindal has headed off what would have been a terrible mistake.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of</p><p>the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>